Burial-vault.



L. D. POWERS. BURIAL VAUL'T.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY28,'1913.

Patented Aug. 11,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

55 fl y THE MORRIS PETERS CD., PHOTOALITHO., WASHINGTON, D. C.

L. D. POWERS.

BURIAL VAULT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2 8, 1913.

Patented Aug. 11, 1914,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. Zi/Z j..

@Hoz/111,135

THE MORRIS PETERS co., PHOTo-LITHO.. WASHINCTON, D.

LEONARD D. PUWEROF KE-NESA'W, NEBRASKA.

BURIALJVAULT.

incassa.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 28, 1913.

Patented Aug. 11, 1914. Serial No. 770,451.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEONARD D. Pownns, a citizen of United States, residing at Kenesaw, in the county of Adams, State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements; in Burial-Vaults; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

The present invention is directed` to improvements in burial vaults. 4

The invention has for its object to construct a device of this character from cement so that the same when in use will be waterproof, air tight, and practically burglar proof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vault of this type which will last indefinitely, and one which may be manufactured at a minimum cost.

A. still further object of the invention is to construct la device of this character from sections, which may be easily and quickly connected to form a single casket receiving vault.

A still further object of the invention is to provide the bottom of a vault with rests for receiving` the casket after being lowered, said rests being so arranged that the lowering straps may be easily removed after the casket is supported upon the rests.

TWith these and other objects in view, this invention resides in the novel features of construction, formation, combination and 'arrangement of parts to be hereinafter' more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the vault. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bottom sections, the top removed. Fig. a is a sectional view on line 4:*4.- of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an end view.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6*@ of` Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a top plan view. Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the bottom of the vault, which is formed from outer sections 2, and an intermediate section 3. The inner edges of the sections 2 are beveled as at 11, which correspond to the beveled outer edges 5 of the intermediate section 3, so that when the sections forming the bottom are abutting there will be a tight fit at these edges. The upper surfaces of the outer sections 2 are provided at their inner edges with bevels 6 which form in conjunction with the bevels 7 formed upon the outer ends of the intermediate section 3 channels 7, and in which is poured cement in liquid form so as to form a water-tight joint at these points.

The sides S consist of a pair of sections 9, which have their outer ends formed with V shaped grooves 10, and their inner ormeeting ends formed with V-shaped grooves 11 and tongues 12 which interlock. To hold the meeting ends of the sections 9 positively connected plates 13 are provided and are placed upon the inner and outer surfaces of said sections, said plates being engaged by bolts 1st which firmly hold the plates clamped.

rlhe sections 2 and 3 forming the bottom 1 are provided upon their upper surfaces with alined ribs 15, which are triangular in cross section so as to engage the ll-shaped grooves 1G formed in the lower edges of the sections 9 of the sides 8. The outer sections 2 are provided upon their upper surfaces with ribs 17, which extending transversely thereof and are triangular in cross section, so as to be engaged by the V-shaped grooves 17 formed in the lower edges of the ends 18. The ends are provided upon their inner faces with ribs 19, which are also triangular in cross section and engage the V-shaped grooves 10` formed in the outer ends of the side sections 9.

rlhe top 20 is formed from outer sections 21, and an intermediate section 22, the meeting edgesof said sections being beveled as at 23, so as to insure a tight joint. The meeting edges of the sections 21 and 22 are so formed as to provide a V-shaped groove 24 to receive cement to seal the joint when the vault is set up. The under surfaces of the sections 21 and 22 are provided with alined ribs 25, which are triangular in cross section and engage the V-shaped grooves 26 formed in the upper edges of the sections 9 of the sides 3. Similarly shaped ribs 27 are formed transversely of the section 21, and adajacent their outer edges, and engage the V-shaped grooves 28 formed in the upper edges of the ends 18. Embedded in the sections 21 of the top are reinforcing elements 28, the same being arranged in converging relation and have their outer ends overlapping and provided with registered perforations 29. The intermediate section e l applied to their upper projected ends. Similar rods 34 are provided, and have their lower ends secured to the outer ends of the bottom sections 2, said rods passing through the end sections 18 and sections 2l of the .j J5013 and are engaged by clamping nuts of the rods pass through The npperends 29 of the reinforcing elethe lperforations ments.

Formed near the side edges of the bottom sections l and 2 are alined ribs 36, the ribs upon the, outer sections 2 being connected at their outer ends by transversely arranged ribs. The ribs 3.7 are sol arranged as to be spaced a short distance from the inner Surfaces of thefends 18, and the ribs 36 are similarly arranged in respect to the inner faces ofthe side sections 9., so that when the vend and side sections are in their set up. 'position cement may be poured in the spaces `between said sections and ribs to seal to prevent moisture and form a liquid the interior of the Waterfrom entering vault.

Formed transversely of the outer sections 2" ofv the bottom are rests 3.8 for supporting the casket when the same is placed in the `means are provided vault, thus holding the bottom thereof spaced from the bottom of the vault so that the lowering' strapsmay be veasily removed. Formed integral with the rods 32 are rods V89 which have their outer ends arranged to n proJect through the ends 18, so as to receive clamping bolts, thereby firmly holding the ends in place.

From this construction it Will be seen that vault has been provided Which iscomposed of a plurality of sections, which may be easily and quickly Set u, and

or permitting the ready removal of the usual `casketlowering straps.

VVhatis claimed is A burial vault having al bottom, sides and ends, a top formed from outersections and au intermediate section, having convergingly disposed reinforcing elements embedded therein, parallel j. ar-

ranged reinforcing elements embedded; in

the intermediate' section and having their verging` elements, vertical rods embedded in the sides and having their` upperends engaged With the elements at their overlapping points, horizontal 4rods embedded in the sides and ends extended from said ends, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof, Iafx my signature, in the presencel of two Witnesses.

LEONARD D'. POWERS.

Witnesses:

THOMAS J. HINEs, EARL D. WEEKS.

copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner orlat'ents, Washington, D. C.

one in which thek outer sections n ends overlapping the inner' ends of the conl having` their inner endscOnnected tothe vertical rods, and their` outer 

